West trounces Klein in fundraising for quarter

Republican Congressional candidate Allen West raised $1.4 million during the most recent fundraising quarter -- nearly triple the approximately $510,000 raised by his opponent, Democratic Congressman Ron Klein. But Klein still has more cash on hand thanks to leftover money from a previous cycle.

Klein's report shows he has raised a total of about $2.4 million and has $2.9 million cash on hand.

West's report shows that he has raised a total of $3.5 million and has about $2.2 million cash on hand.

Klein appeared to be ignoring his opponent until recent weeks when he has ramped up attacks -- most recently about West calling for getting rid of the federal Department of Education.

"The elimination of the Department of Education would weaken our already stressed out public school system," Klein wrote in a press release. "In addition, West's ideas place him in lockstep with the most radical elements of the Tea Party and with extremists like Sharron Angle and Rand Paul."

West's campaign manager Josh Grodin responded: "The money needs to be used directly in the classoom not sitting in a bureaucratic agency in Washington D.C. that has failed to accomplish its mission."